Which facial bone must be fractured for a LeFort fracture to occur?

A LeFort fracture is a type of facial fracture that specifically involves the maxilla, which is the upper jaw bone. For a LeFort fracture to occur, the maxilla must be fractured because this bone plays a crucial role in the facial structure's stability and is the main bone affected in these types of fractures.

When examining the specifics of LeFort fractures, they are classified into three types (LeFort I, II, and III) based on the level at which the fracture line runs through the maxilla and surrounding structures. These fractures are characterized by the detachment of the maxilla and associated facial bones from the skull base, leading to significant changes in facial configuration.

In contrast, while the pterygoid plate, palatine bone, and nasal bone are part of the facial anatomy, they do not directly relate to the occurrence of a LeFort fracture. The involvement of the maxilla is a defining feature of this type of injury, with the other bones typically not being the primary site of fracture in these injuries.